Brad Bufanda

Brad Bufanda (born Fred Joseph Bufanda III; May 4, 1983 – November 1, 2017) was an American actor. He was known for his recurring role as Felix Toombs in the television series Veronica Mars, as well as his self-made Internet videos.

Career

Bufanda began his professional acting career in 1994 starring in the independent action film Pocket Ninjas. He appeared on television the first time in 1994 as the Hero Boy in a Skechers commercial. At the age of 12 he starred in the ABC weekend special The Secret of Lizard Woman. While in middle school he appeared on the ABC series Roseanne and Hangin' with Mr. Cooper. Bufanda appeared in a number of television shows including Sons of Anarchy, CBS's CSI: Miami, Fox's Malcolm in the Middle, Disney Channel's Even Stevens, and NBC's soap opera Days of Our Lives. Bufanda portrayed Felix Toombs in the series Veronica Mars. He starred in the Cinemax series Co-Ed Confidential (credited as Bradley Joseph) from 2008 to 2010, in addition to filming and editing the show's reunion. 

Staying credited as Bradley Joseph, Bufanda appeared in the psychological thriller Dark Tourist in 2012. Former colleagues have gone on record stating he was unprofessional (A Cinderella Story DVD commentary) and difficult to work with. 2017 marked Bufanda's brief return to film with a supporting role in the action comedy Garlic & Gunpowder.

Death

Bufanda committed suicide on November 1, 2017, at the age of 34 by jumping off of his residential tower in the 300 block of South Fuller Avenue in the Park La Brea apartment community of Los Angeles. The Los Angeles County coroner's office said a note was found at the scene. The suicide note was found on or near his body and gave the names of his parents and thanked important people in his life. Bufanda was previously known for posting alarming content to social media and talking about his declining acting career with allusions to his mental health. In 2012 he shared an image where his ribs can clearly be seen, alongside the hashtag "Too pretty for Hollywood" – he said that he wanted to copy Christian Bale in The Machinist. Later that year, Bufanda posted a picture of two royalty checks for $1.62 and $38.91 with the caption "Fuck Hollywood".